Marked for Revenge

by Valerie Hansen

She laughed lightly. “You may be. I’m right where I intended.”

  “You have a map or GPS I don’t know about?”

  “I looked at one on the wall at the service station and could see several workable possibilities. You just mentioned one of them. I’m good.”

  The set of his jaw and his crossed arms left no doubt he was upset, particularly with her. That was unfortunate but understandable. She’d cope. Incurring Daniel’s displeasure was nothing compared to what she’d experienced when she’d informed her parents she was dropping out of medical school.

  That decision was one she’d made for her own benefit and she was prepared to stick with it regardless.

  This time, however, she was acting on Daniel’s behalf and was not quite as sure of herself. Yes, she’d prayed about it, but that was no guarantee that her own ego hadn’t usurped control and misdirected her well-intentioned choices.

  Please, Lord, stick with us, with me, Kaitlin prayed silently. You know my heart is in the right place. Help me help him.

  The urge to keep asking the same thing over and over was strong so she persisted while she wondered how long it might be before God got tired of listening to her incessant babble.

  “Mercy. I need mercy,” she whispered, realizing her passenger might have overheard her.

  A brief peek at him showed no change in his stiff posture. He was still giving off vibes of silent anger, which, considering the fact that he could be shouting at her instead, was the better of the two options.

  She pressed the accelerator harder, taking the truck to the speed limit. They pretty much had the road to themselves except for a few slow-moving trailers and an RV that she passed easily.

  The highway opened up ahead of her. There were still some twists and turns but nothing as sharp as they’d found in the Ozark Mountains. Her dependable old truck was chugging along, the sun was shining, the road was an easy drive and there was quiet in the cab, even if it had come at a price.

  Sighing, Kaitlin relaxed her tense arms and pressed her back against the seat to ease the kinks in those overworked muscles. If the radio worked she’d play it, she mused, settling for humming the first gospel song that popped into her head.

  Despite everything else, this promised to be a good day. A pleasant ride in mild fall weather. There were even trees still sporting bright autumn colors. They were passing a particularly pretty yellow and orange one. Kaitlin followed it with her eyes until she’d driven past, then tried to keep it in sight for few seconds more.

  There it was. In the mirror. Until a curve in the road took it out of view.

  And replaced it with a speeding, black SUV.

  * * *

  Her shout immediately startled him out of brooding. “Daniel! Behind us!”

  “What? Where?” One look and he didn’t need Kaitlin’s answer. The problem was evident due to the other car’s speed. “How long has it been there?”

  “I—I’m not sure.”

  “Weren’t you watching?”

  “Yes, but just traffic in general. That last SUV we had trouble with was light colored. This one came out of nowhere.”

  “Can we outrun him?”

  “I’m not sure. I hadn’t shifted into overdrive so maybe. I’ve got the gas pedal all the way to the floor.”

  “He’s gaining.”

  “I can see that. Is the gun still loaded?”

  “Yes.” In a swift, smooth motion he had it in his hand. “I won’t shoot while we’re moving. It’s too hard to aim.”

  “But...”

  “This is not a cop show on TV,” he shouted, freeing his shoulders from the upper part of the seat belt so he could swivel. “Without a straight stretch of road and no other cars anywhere near us I can’t chance a shot. Even small calibers can still do damage over a mile away.”

  “Okay, I get it. Do you want me to pull over?”

  “That’s probably the worst thing you can do.”

  “Then what?”

  Daniel could hear panic building in her voice, see it in the death grip she had on the steering wheel. What, indeed? Ideally, a state trooper would be parked along the road, waiting to stop speeders. And, as the old saying went, where was a cop when you needed one?

  “Just keep driving. Maybe he’ll make a mistake and spin out or something.”

  “That’s not the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard but it’s close,” Kaitlin yelled.

  “This isn’t the time for jokes.”

  “Who’s joking?”

  Had Daniel been looking ahead instead of behind he would have anticipated an upcoming turn. At that speed it was almost too much for the truck. Tires squealed. Kaitlin screamed and hit the brakes just as the SUV behind them slammed into her bumper.

  Momentum threw Daniel hard to the left. His leg twisted. Instantaneous agony made him cry out. The foam cooler on the floor kept him from bracing well with his good leg. Instead, his upper body landed against Kaitlin and she lost what little control she had left.

  Instinct made Daniel grab for the wheel. She was screaming. At him.

  The smoothness of the pavement ended. The pickup climbed a raised berm and became airborne. It seemed to hang suspended, like a dry leaf in the wind, then landed nose first and began to bump down a grassy slope dotted with cedars.

  “Hang on!” Daniel yelled.

  Kaitlin’s “Let go!” came at the top of her lungs, ending with a wail that went on and on.

  Bracing himself against the dash, Daniel knew it had been a reckless move to slip out of the top strap of his safety belt. The part of his psyche that had felt totally capable, totally in charge, had won out over common sense. If he lived through this he was never going to listen to that internal macho voice again.

  Once he’d released the steering wheel Kaitlin was able to regain a smidgen of control. Seconds that were actually whizzing by seemed to pass at a crawl. Every time he started to think she had a handle on their plunge the pickup took another bounce. With the tires literally off the ground she had no brakes. No steering.

  He had demanded they return to a highway. This was all his fault.

  * * *

  As Kaitlin fought for control she flashed back to her first ski run as a child. Her dad had insisted she’d be fine without more than a rudimentary lesson and had egged her on until she’d tried the simple slope. And fallen. Too bad she couldn’t lean the truck the way she’d leaned her body on skis. Still, there was a certain rhythm to the descent that kept her from being totally frantic.

  There was no time to do much except grip the wheel and pray. She had no idea when their plunge would end or how they’d stop. If it was against one of the sturdy cedar trees they were both going to be hurt, and so was her truck. They couldn’t possibly flee on foot and succeed. At least Daniel couldn’t. Not hurt the way he already was.

  Hardly able to breathe let alone form a proper prayer, Kaitlin called out to her heavenly Father with her whole heart. They couldn’t die like this. Not after all the other trials they’d come through.

  Another bounce pushed the nose of the truck to the right. She turned the wheel. Got no response. Steering was gone. They might as well be in freefall. “Hang on!”

  The way Daniel was braced against the dash she could imagine what would happen to his arms—and his head—if their vehicle stopped suddenly. What if they ended up badly hurt? They’d disposed of their only phone back at the lodge. There’d be no way to call for help.

  Dark green boughs closed in on both sides of the pickup, slapping the windshield and scraping the paint. Kaitlin squeezed her eyes shut and covered her face.

  The truck tilted. Please, Jesus! Help!

  Tires on the high side left the ground. “No!” She wasn’t ready to die in the middle of nowhere. She wasn’t ready to die anywhere. She’d finally met a good, honest man whose off-beat sense of humor complement
ed hers and they were being tumbled like a pair of sneakers in a clothes dryer on their way to oblivion. That was so unfair.

  Pain shot through her left shoulder as the seat belt tightened with a jerk. Everything was spinning. She didn’t know up from down. “Daniel!”

  Branches cracked outside her window. Glass shattered, raining down in tiny, blunted chunks the way its makers had intended. The truck bounced like a kid on a trampoline, each bounce less forceful than the one before.

  Then, all was still except the cloud of dust swirling around them.

  Dizzy, disoriented and suspended upside down, Kaitlin was almost afraid to look. “Daniel?”

  He stirred. Moaned.

  “Daniel!” She reached out to him, hoping to check his pulse. He was too far away to touch, but at least she could see his chest moving up and down. His breathing looked more normal than hers felt. Inhaling was difficult with the belt drawn so tightly across her chest. She coughed, struggled to release the catch. Although she didn’t think she was hurt badly she was desperate to reach Daniel, to see if his lack of response was due to a serious or fatal injury.

  Feet appeared outside her window. Someone in tennis shoes stopped and called out. More people gathered. A young man who looked like a teenager bent down and peered in at her. “You okay, lady?”

  “I think so. Take care of my friend.”

  The rescuer straightened. “There’s two of ’em. Alive. Call 911. And somebody bring me a knife to cut the seat belts.”

  Hearing him shout for aid calmed Kaitlin considerably. Anybody who wanted to call an ambulance could not be afraid of facing the authorities. State troopers would accompany a rescue squad, so that was additional proof they’d be safe. If she hadn’t been so worried about Daniel she would have shouted with joy.

  More helping hands reached for her. Kaitlin knew both she and Daniel should have their spines properly stabilized before they were moved but she could smell gasoline. The tank had been nearly full when they’d wrecked and must be leaking. Fire was a real danger.

  Reaching as far as possible she managed to turn off the ignition before she was freed. Would that be enough to keep a spark from setting off the fumes?

  Not willing to risk it, she let herself be dragged through the broken window and laid on the rough grass. Somebody held her down in spite of her struggles to rise. “No. Let me go. I have to see about Daniel.”

  “You need to stay still till the ambulance gets here,” a kind-sounding voice explained.

  “I’m an EMT. I know I’m not hurt. You have to let me go.”

  “Well, I don’t know...”

  Gathering strength as she breathed deeply she pushed the Good Samaritan away. “I’ve got this. Honest.”

  Strong men had removed Daniel from the wreck and two were carrying him up the hill toward the road. “Watch his neck. Keep traction,” Kaitlin shouted after them.

  By the time she caught up to the men and her beloved Daniel, Kaitlin was out of breath and coughing again. Her ribs were sore, likely from the safety belt, but other than feeling shaky she decided she was holding together.

  Daniel stirred. Kneeling beside him she took his face in her hands and told him, “Don’t move. We were in a wreck. You could have spinal injuries.”

  His lashes fluttered. His eyes opened. In seconds she saw recognition. “You. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Flooded with relief she let herself weep, not that she could have held back all the tears of gratitude.

  “Where are we?”

  “Side of the road. My truck is toast but an ambulance is on the way. They won’t come alone. We’ll be safe.”

  Blinking rapidly, Daniel did exactly the opposite of what she’d told him to do. He levered himself into a sitting position.

  “Lie down. Don’t move. This is serious,” Kaitlin said shrilly.

  His gaze captured hers and held it for long seconds before moving to focus directly behind her. “Very.”

  A hand came to rest heavily on her shoulder. When she tried to duck away the fingers pinched enough to cause pain. She didn’t turn. Didn’t take her eyes off Daniel’s face, hoping and praying she was wrong about his terse warning.

  Another stranger appeared behind Daniel, looped his hands under his arms and assisted him to stand. “We’ll take care of these folks,” the figure announced to the crowd. “They can sit in our car until the ambulance gets here.”

  Kaitlin kept waiting for some bystander to speak up and insist they not be moved. No one said a word. When she studied the two burly men who had taken charge she understood why. Only a fool would argue with guys who looked like they could bench press a bus—and not break a sweat doing it.

  Returning to making eye contact with Daniel she saw him sag and lower his eyelids as if he were about to pass out. Momentary fear gripped her until she saw him signal by refocusing on her, then winking before going back into the pseudo faint.

  She feigned a swoon, too, hoping the captor behind her was aware enough to keep her from hitting the ground. As soon as she felt him grab her she collapsed completely and fell against him. Let her head loll. Became the human version of a rag doll as he picked her up.

  “Put yours in the back seat,” the man carrying Kaitlin said. “This one can go in with our gear.”

  “Not enough room,” his companion replied. “You’ll have to use the front seat or stack ’em like cordwood.”

  “Do we really care?”

  Kaitlin couldn’t believe they’d speak so revealingly in front of witnesses, yet neither seemed bothered enough to shut up. Where were the police? What was taking so long? Had they wrecked so far from a town with ambulance service that medical aid would also be delayed? And what in the world was Daniel up to? Personally, she’d rather have walked under her own power than submit to being carried by this brute.

  Low, agonized groans were coming from Daniel. Kaitlin had to peek, had to know what was going on. Her lids lifted enough to show her that he now lay lengthways along the rear seat of the SUV. If she hadn’t seen him truly suffering during his fever-induced nightmare she might have believed he was in actual distress now.

  Their captors were apparently fooled because one of them bent over him, listening, while the one holding her asked, “What’s he sayin’?”

  “Can’t make it all out. Sounds like he’s babblin’ about something he left in the pickup.”

  “What?”

  One of the curious bystanders started to back away, then turned suddenly and ran down the hill toward the wreck. That triggered the thug to plop her onto the rear floor next to the seat where Daniel lay and abandon her with her feet hanging out the door. Others noticed their unusual haste and joined them until half the motorists who had stopped to assist were barreling back to the smashed pickup.

  A hoarse whisper prickled the hair on the back of Kaitlin’s neck as it asked, “Did they both leave?”

  There was no doubt who was talking. She lifted her head as little as possible to look. “Yes.”

  “Then I want you to slip out, circle around to the driver’s side and get behind the wheel.”

  “We’re stealing their car?” She was flabbergasted.

  “Borrowing it. Unless they took the keys,” he whispered. “Don’t try to shut the doors. Once you get this running and pull away, the wind should take care of that.”

  “What about you? It’s not safe. You might fall out.”

  Moving slowly, purposefully, Daniel slipped one arm through the shoulder strap of the nearest seat belt and wound it around his wrist and forearm, grasping it with both hands.

  Kaitlin understood perfectly. She was already crouched down ready to go when she heard Daniel order, “Now. Before it’s too late.”

  EIGHTEEN

  Holding on to the strap with all his remaining strength, Daniel strained to pick out important sounds. Oth
er traffic was still passing occasionally, but apparently enough cars had stopped to offer aid that later drivers were satisfied the situation was under control.

  He wished he felt that way. As an officer of the law he had sworn an oath to protect every civilian. Unfortunately, he was in no position to do so at present and it galled him to have to leave the scene when kindhearted folks might be in danger. Sounds of sirens in the distance eased his mind some. Once troopers reached the scene he was sure the thugs would back off because they’d want to appear innocent and uninvolved.

  Daniel lifted his shoulders without releasing the strap. “Are the keys in it?”

  “Yes.”

  Tremors in her voice worried him so he said, “If it’s an automatic, I can drive. The police are almost on scene. You can get out if you spot a patrol car.”

  “And leave you? Not on your life. I’m in this for as long as you need me.” The engine roared to life. “Hang on. Here we go.”

  Even though he was expecting it, the speed of their acceleration took him by surprise, throwing him sideways against the back of the seat and straining his tenuous hold almost to the breaking point until Kaitlin got them back on the highway and straightened their course.

  Her door slammed closed. The one by his feet did not. Although it was no longer flapping like the wing of a wounded crow Daniel was afraid it would attract too much attention so he sat up and slid across to try to close it.

  “What are you doing?” she shouted over the whoosh of the air coming in and the wail of passing emergency vehicles.

  “Almost got it. Just hold steady.”

  “I can handle it. Hang on.”

  “Wait!” Daniel had had to release the belt on the other side of the SUV in order to move closer to the unlatched door. The instant he realized what Kaitlin planned to do he made a grab for the only thing within reach—the door handle.

  His weight pushed the whole door away instead of closed and he found himself hanging, head and shoulders outside the speeding car, feet and legs inside.

  His “No!” was half shout, half scream. His fingers were slipping. His wounded leg was starting to give out. Pavement rushed by below, waiting to receive him face first if he failed to right himself.